The 16th season of MLS Cup Playoffs on ESPN will kickoff Sunday, Oct. 16, with a doubleheader on ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPN Deportes, beginning with the first matches of two conference semifinals, the New York Red Bulls vs. Los Angeles Galaxy at 3 p.m. ET, and Philadelphia Union vs. Houston Dynamo at 5 p.m.:

Highlights:

The Galaxy, with former England captain David Beckham, U.S. National Team star Landon Donovan and Ireland’s national team striker Robbie Keane; and the Red Bulls, featuring Thierry Henry, a member of the 1998 FIFA World Cup-winning French national team and captain of the Mexican National Team Rafa Márquez, have two of the league’s highest payrolls and field the league’s most accomplished professional soccer players;

The MLS Eastern Conference Semifinal series between Houston Dynamo and Philadelphia Union will be the other match of the doubleheaders (Sunday, Oct. 30 and Thursday, Nov. 3). The teams finished the season Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, on the Eastern Conference standings;

A conference semifinal matchup between Real Salt Lake, led by U.S. National Team player Kyle Beckerman, and the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 10 p.m. will round out five conference semifinal matches on ESPN networks.

MLS Cup Playoffs schedule:

Date

Time (ET)

Matchup

Network(s)

Sun, Oct 30

3 p.m.

New York Red Bulls vs. Los Angeles GalaxyAdrian Healey and John Harkes

Chivas USA striker Alejandro Moreno will join host Max Bretos and analyst Alexi Lalas in the studio to provide fresh off-the-field insight. Moreno, who has played on three MLS Cup-winning teams, will work the two doubleheader days of MLS Cup Playoffs action – Sunday, Oct. 30, and Thursday, Nov. 3;